Nine million older Americans are at risk of hunger

October 25, 2011By: LindsiCategory: WordPress Import

These tough economic conditions are hard on so many people throughout our communities, but for older Americans with low or fixed incomes, it can be a serious struggle. Seniors often fall into patterns of eating less to make their dollars go further, and those that have limited mobility or access to transportation are forced to spend more money for less food in small markets and convenience stores. And many older Americans don’t take advantage of the program available to them, such as SNAP (Food Support or Food Stamps).

To bring awareness to the prevalence of senior hunger and to provide resources for our older neighbors in need, Second Harvest Heartland has teamed with UnitedHealthcare and WCCO-TV during the month of October.

There are programs and resources available, but asking for help can be difficult. And many individuals aren’t even aware of some of the programs for which they are eligible. In the video below, our friend Gladys tells her personal story of her struggle with hunger and admits that pride was a barrier that she had to overcome in order to get the food she needed to live a healthy life.

For more information on senior hunger and to find local resources, click here.